Police probe road signs mystery
Police probe road signs mystery
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streaky

Original Poster:

19,311 posts

279 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
BBC News said:


Detectives in the south east of Scotland are investigating the disappearance of scores of road signs.
It is thought that up to 100 have been stolen in the last two months in East Lothian and the eastern Borders.

In August about 50 warning and direction signs, worth £20,000, were taken from sites in East Lothian.

Another 40 have now gone missing in the nearby area and police and farmers said they were worried about potential dangers for motorists and walkers.

They warned that crashes could happen either at places like unmarked sharp bends or because a driver's concentration is undermined by trying to work out a route.

One theory about the thefts is that the signs are being stolen because of the rising price of aluminium from which the road signs are made.

Police want to hear about any suspicious activity, especially anything that has been spotted at night.


Streaky

Deltafox

3,839 posts

262 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Its the friggin pikies nicking them and weighing them in as theyre made of aluminium... Detectives? derrrrrrrrrr thickos.

james_j

3,996 posts

285 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Yes, Pikies most likely. They take drain covers too.

GeraldCBuckle

169 posts

243 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Haven't we got enough to do trying to figure out what the speed limit is without having to worry about spotting signs that aren't there...

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

274 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Been going on for years that and as stated becomes more prelevent when scrap metal prices rise.

dvd

jasandjules

72,626 posts

259 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
What is the mystery?

Pop along to the nearest "traveller" site and I am sure they will see the signs.

viggen114

259 posts

283 months

dutch paul

131 posts

263 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
They should nick only speed limit signs (apart from national speed limit signs).
It would make defending speeding fines a little easier evil

I wonder whether speed humps are worth anything as scrap??



Edited by dutch paul on Friday 29th September 18:07

hedders

24,460 posts

277 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Surely a speed camera has some scrap value??

justin1230smith

86 posts

257 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Dwight VanDriver said:
Been going on for years that and as stated becomes more prelevent when scrap metal prices rise.

dvd


I never knew that and would never had thought of that - I heard metal prices were up but never thought of how that can be turned into a buck for people ! - I shall keep my eyes peeled next time I am near such an encampment and pass it onto our Air Support unit who often have a nose in know sites on their way back to base from a job.

jasandjules

72,626 posts

259 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Justin if you are near the A134 a new illegal (I suspect) site has appeared just outside of Colchester heading to Sudbury. I suspect a lot of manhole covers and road signs will soon vanish......It looks like just 4-5 blokes in a couple of caravans and some new 4*4s (How the hell do they afford the newer cars too?!?!)

jwb

332 posts

268 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
From an early age it was common knowledge that gypos nicked manhole covers and any other metal that wasnt permantly fixed down (beer kegs from outside boozers, gates etc)

When they invaded a local field things would always go missing and burlguries would rise. And they wonder why everybody hates them?

LongQ

13,864 posts

263 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
jasandjules said:
(How the hell do they afford the newer cars too?!?!)


Many reasons but low cost of living, the cash economy and the absence of any need to pay HM Customs and Revenue are a few suggestions that come to mind. Those and raising capital from items that have cost you zilch in the first place.

Deltafox

3,839 posts

262 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
hedders said:
Surely a speed camera has some scrap value??



Nah people dont wanna payout for shit.....

shuvitupya

3,338 posts

247 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
Deltafox said:
hedders said:
Surely a speed camera has some scrap value??



Nah people dont wanna payout for shit.....


Too many road signs in the back of your car to worry about scameras

Flat in Fifth

48,898 posts

281 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
justin1230smith said:
Dwight VanDriver said:
Been going on for years that and as stated becomes more prelevent when scrap metal prices rise.

dvd

I never knew that and would never had thought of that - I heard metal prices were up but never thought of how that can be turned into a buck for people ! - I shall keep my eyes peeled next time I am near such an encampment and pass it onto our Air Support unit who often have a nose in know sites on their way back to base from a job.

Scrap aluminium is about 70p/kilo at the moment so not megabucks.

J1mmyD

1,823 posts

249 months

Friday 29th September 2006
quotequote all
70-90p a kilo, depending on what you've got .... but it's enough to get some scrote pulling down a few signs ... nicking hazard plates off the back of lorries (yes, officer - it really did fall off the back of one) ... it doesn't take much for a couple of kids to get a tenner apiece, and that's all they're after.

SS HSV

9,646 posts

288 months

Saturday 30th September 2006
quotequote all
BBC News said:

In August about 50 warning and direction signs, worth £20,000, were taken from sites in East Lothian.



Jeez, I'm in the wrong business.. £400 a sign? I should be selling signs to the council yes






or the thick pikey's should be selling them back to the council setup as a sign shop.. maybe the thief IS the signshop

autismuk

1,529 posts

270 months

Saturday 30th September 2006
quotequote all
Deltafox said:
Its the friggin pikies nicking them and weighing them in as theyre made of aluminium... Detectives? derrrrrrrrrr thickos.


Unfortunately the Police are unable to arrest travellers. Due to recent incidents, all arrests of travellers are discussed with traveller groups first to see if they are appropriate.

Guess what, they never are.

bluejj

183 posts

261 months

Saturday 30th September 2006
quotequote all
Emmm, Lothian and Borders have just announced that a 38 year old man has been arrested for this and they make no mention of his ethnicity.